Sport

Berrow hoping to enter Ladies team into Somerset League

BERROW Football Club is hoping to enter a female team in the Somerset Women’s Football League next season as they look to build up female participation in the sport.

Club coach Kerry Panteli believes the founding of the team will prevent the sport from losing players when they leave school, as well as building on the ever growing profile of the women’s game.

She said: “This team will be the main platform for ladyies’ participation in the area, giving that opportunity for girls in junior teams to turn to after the under-16s and continue playing the game.

“This will attract girls from the local clubs who offer girls teams in the area, but do not offer a ladies’ team.

“These are clubs such as the girls development squad at Berrow JFC, who have players at the moment from eight to 15 years of age, and Wedmore JFC, who have girls playing football every weekend from ten to 15 years of age.

“So, in effect the legacy I look to sustain is that ladies have the opportunity to continue to participate in football for a team, and girls are able to continue participating in football after they leave school and their junior teams at under-16.”

Kerry is a current FA level two coach, and a football coaching and development student at university.